Sr Character Artist (External Development)

Join the award-winning team that created God of War

Santa Monica Studio is seeking a Senior Character Artist on our External Development Team to help us build a new unannounced title!

As a Senior Character Artist on the Ex-Dev Team, you will help document, guide, and review the execution of Outsourced Character Art from an artistic and technical standpoint. You will be the liaison between SMS and our External Partners. Additionally, you’ll help bridge communication and provide visibility with our internal Character Art Team through meetings, knowledge share, and team reviews. As time and schedule permits, you may also help support the internal Character Art Team by taking on your own tasks to help achieve Santa Monica Studio’s signature quality. 

We are looking for you to learn from the industry’s premier talent in art and tech while applying your unique knowledge of high poly sculpting, modeling, textures, as well as hair and groom. The ideal candidate has a portfolio demonstrating Senior-level Character Work as well as strong knowledge of game content pipelines, workflow and asset documentation, and experience driving Externally Developed Character Art.

Responsibilities

• Regularly represent the studio in External communication and discussion by mentoring and giving feedback to an external group of Character Artists
• Work with the external development group to maintain strong relationships with external character art studios and ensure their success in working with our team to meet Santa Monica Studio standards
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and broader team to ensure delivered character assets are of high quality and adhere to our project and studio standards
• Oversee and drive quality for all incoming character-related deliveries of content - provide proactive feedback for any early adjustments needed before reviewing with internal stakeholders
• Communicate with external studios on how to develop, verify, and maintain our standards from high poly sculpts, low poly models, texturing, and hair/groom
• Create documentation for character standards, tutorials, examples, delivery expectations and assist in the integration of assets from external studios
• Advise on problem areas and help troubleshoot character asset problems with external partners
• Integrate delivered content directly into the game
• Partner with the production team to help track incoming assets and deliveries
• May serve as an artistic resource for overall product or studio needs - this includes conducting general research, task overflow, testing new systems or tools, techniques, and providing training

Requirements

• 5+ Years of experience as a 3D Character Artist
• Shipped AAA game(s) from start to finish
• Strong Traditional Fine Art Skills with an emphasis on scale, anatomy, composition, color theory, 2D/3D design
• Advanced Understanding of Industry Standard Software such as Maya, Photoshop, ZBrush, and Texture Creation/Material Editing (Substance Painter/Designer)
• Capable of resolving a range of complex artistic development issues for both artists as well as other members
• Familiarity with video game development including, but not limited to workflow, tools, lighting, high and low poly modeling, texture painting, PBR material setup, UV layout, and engine parameters/optimizations
• Interest in overcoming various challenges of working with multiple external partners
• Possess strong time management and prioritization skills
• Good communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with Outsourcing

#LI-SMS
#LI-AM1